Jose Gozar was an instructor in the Flying School of Air Corps of the Philippine Army. During World War II he fought as a pilot.

JOSE GOZAR

Jose Gozar enlisted in the Air Corps of the Philippine Army in April 1938. On graduating he served as an instructor in the Flying School between 1940 and the outbreak of World War II in December 1941.

Gozar fought as a pilot, receiving a citation for shooting down two Japanese bombers during the war. Following the last stand of the Philippine Army at Bataan and Corregidor, the Japanese placed a price on his head as an un-surrendered aviator. He tried to reach Mindanao with the hope of continuing to Australia.

However, local guerrillas suspected him to be a spy so he escaped on a sailboat with two friends. Caught by a storm on the open sea he abandoned the craft and swam to the shore - possibly this was the last heard of him - although possibly there is a report saying he is to fly back from Australia, as directed by MacArthur piloting the P-51 Mustang, at that time the latest war plane of the US Air Force.

8 April 1918

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